Large grid for 2015 Super Touring opener

An impressive field of 26 historic touring cars will descend on Donington Park for the opening round of the 2015 HSCC Super Touring Cars.

The Historic Festival marks the first time that Super Touring machinery will compete on the Leicestershire since the series was formed at the Silverstone Classic in 2012.

Hot favourites for the weekend include reigning champion James Dodd and joint-runner up Stewart Whyte in their Honda Accords, while two-time BTCC champion John Cleland is never one to be overlooked, who tied with Whyte at the end of 2014.

The new season brings with it a host of new cars to the series, including the previously reported Audi A4 of Paul Smith, with Keith Butcher also scheduled to drive an ex-Christian Abt A4. Patrick Watts will also enter a second Peugeot 406 for close friend Malcolm Harrison, while Nick and Harry Whale are both scheduled to compete on track against each other for the first time in separate BMW M3s.

A handful of additional Honda Accords are preparing to line up on the grid, with Graeme Dodd joining son James in the second 1999 machine, previously raced by Peter Kox, whereas Paul Whight and Tom Gladdis will compete in the 1996 Accords that were originally driven by David Leslie and James Kaye respectively. Ric Wood will step away from his previous Honda Accord to pilot the Mazda 323, previously raced in the series by Kingsley Ingram.

Also set to compete at Donington Park are the usual suspects in the series, including series organiser Dave Jarman in his ex-Matt Neal Nissan Primera, Tony Absolom in a Vauxhall Cavalier, Craig Davies in the Ford RS500, Mark Smith in a BMW M3 and Stephen Dymoke and Neil Smith in their respective Alfa Romeo 156s.

Engine troubles mean that the new Opel Vectra of Simon Garrad and Ford Mondeo of Roger Lavender will not make their debut at the Historic Festival, while Darren Fielding will also be kept away with engine issues. There will also be no Ford RS1800 of Mark Wright.

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LIST – ROUNDS 1 & 2 – DONINGTON PARK HISTORIC FESTIVAL

No – Driver – Car
1 – James Dodd – Honda Accord
4 – Graeme Dodd – Honda Accord
7 – Paul Smith – Audi A4
8 – Darren Fielding – BMW M3 (Non-starter)
9 – Jason Minshaw – BMW M3
11 – Stephen Dymoke – Alfa Romeo 156
12 – Patrick Watts – Peugeot 406
14 – Malcolm Harrison – Peugeot 406
15 – Craig Davies – Ford RS500
17 – Mark Smith – BMW M3
27 – Ric Wood – Mazda 323
28 – John/Gary Pearson – Alfa Romeo 156
31 – Roger Lavender – Ford Mondeo (Non-starter)
33 – Alan Strachan – Ford Mondeo
36 – Keith Butcher – Audi A4
37 – Simon Garrad – Opel Vectra (Non-starter)
60 – Mark Wright – Ford Escort RS1800 (Non-starter)
63 – Andrew Wolfe – Opel Astra
64 – Paul Whight – Honda Accord
66 – Harry Whale – BMW M3
67 – Tony Absolom – Vauxhall Cavalier
70 – Stewart Whyte – Honda Accord
77 – Dave Jarman – Nissan Primera
79 – Mark Jones – Renault Laguna
93 – Tom Gladdis – Honda Accord
97 – Neil Smith – Alfa Romeo 156
98 – John Cleland – Vauxhall Vectra
99 – Nick Whale – BMW M3